The interdisciplinary research initiative “Solving the Mystery of Marine Protected Area Performance” seeks to answer the question of why some MPAs are successful and others fail to provide win-win benefits of conservation and poverty alleviation. We are a collaboration of social and ecological scientists helping to facilitate and analyze results from well-designed quasi-experimental monitoring in Indonesia and leading global synthesis studies. Our overall hypothesis is that better governance leads to better outcomes. We have a growing list of publications and other resources as we seek to provide decision-makers with the knowledge they need to design and implement policies that promote the long-term sustainability of marine resources.